Iowa DOT News Release

Online service helping Iowa CDL holders comply with FMCSA regulations

Posted on: October 11, 2013

AMES, Iowa – Oct. 11, 2013 – With a January 2014 compliance
date quickly approaching to meet medical self-certification requirements for
commercial driver’s license holders, the Iowa Department of Transportation is
reminding CDL holders of an online service aimed at helping them comply with
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations. The “myMVD Self-Certification and Medical
Examiner’s Certificate” service is available online, anytime for the
convenience of busy drivers.

Since the
Iowa DOT began compliance with the federal rules in January 2012, every new
applicant for a CDL and those renewing existing CDLs were required to
self-certify the type of driving they do, interstate or intrastate, and if
applicable, submit a copy of their Medical Examiner’s Certificate to the Iowa
DOT. The federal rule requires all CDL holders to be self- certified by Jan.
30, 2014, regardless of CDL expiration date. If not, the Iowa DOT must mark the
driver record as not medically certified and then initiate a downgrade of the
CDL to a noncommercial status.

Based on a
report from Oct. 1, 38.7 percent of Iowa CDL holders still need to
self-certify.

To avoid
unnecessary complications for any CDL holder, the Iowa DOT: (1) started
notifying drivers of the requirement by sending reminder notices to each holder
prior to their expiration date; (2) created a comprehensive website at www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ods/MCRforCDL.html; and (3) developed brochures, which
are available at driver license issuance sites or online at the above website.
In addition, the Iowa DOT is also sending out a monthly mailing to notify
drivers who have CDLs expiring after the federal deadline of Jan. 30, 2014,
based on the order of expiration.

CDL holders
do not need to wait for the notification; they can make their
self-certification online at: https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Account/Login. Being proactive will avoid roadside
complications and prevent unnecessary downgrading of your commercial driver’s
license. The Iowa DOT wants to help CDL
holders meet the federal deadline. It’s simple to use the online
service.

Select the type of commercial motor
vehicle operation you drive in or expect to drive in with your CDL. Based on
your selection, you will or will not be required to provide a copy of a valid
Medical Examiner’s Certificate. If a certificate is required, instructions will
be provided for emailing, faxing or mailing the form to the Iowa DOT.

If you don’t have online access, you can still meet the
deadline by following these instructions.

If your driver’s license
expires between now and Jan. 30, 2014,
go to the driver’s license stationwhen
it is time for your CDL to be renewed.The clerk will ask you to declare the type of commercial motor vehicle
operation you intend to perform. If it falls into a certain category, you
will be asked to provide your Medical Examiner’s Certificate so that it
can be scanned and saved with your driver record.

If your driver’s license does
not expire until after Jan. 30, 2014, you must
go to an Iowa driver’s license issuance location before Jan. 30, 2014. The
clerk will ask you to declare the type of commercial motor vehicle
operation you intend to perform. If it falls into a certain category, you
will be asked to provide your Medical Examiner’s Certificate so that it
can be scanned and saved with your driver record.

Until the federal program is fully implemented on Jan. 30,
2014, a driver must still carry an original or copy of his or her Medical
Examiner’s Certificate, and provide a copy to his or her employer for the individual’s
driver qualification file.